The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

belonging to Dhritarashtra’s sons, are ready
here. With Indrasena and other charioteers skilled
in arms, for guiding them, ride ye on these everfurnished
cars of deep rattle! And riding on these, exert
ye with activity for fighting with the Gandharvas
to liberate Duryodhana. Even an ordinary Kashatriya
(amongst those that are here), would to the height
of his power, protect one that hath come hither for
refuge! What then, O Vrikodara, shall I say of
thee! Entreated for assistance in such words as
‘O hasten to my aid!’ Who is there (amongst
those standing around me) that is high-souled enough
to assist even his foe, beholding him seeking shelter
with joined hands? The bestowal of a boon, sovereignty,
and the birth of a son are sources of great joy.
But, ye sons of Pandu, the liberation of a foe from
distress is equal to all the three put together!
What can be a source of greater joy to you than that
Duryodhana sunk in distress seeketh his very life
as depending on the might of your arms? O Vrikodara,
if the vow in which I am engaged had been over, there
is little doubt that I would myself have run to his
aid. Strive thou by all means, O Bharata, to
liberate Duryodhana by the arts of conciliation.
If, however, the king of the Gandharvas cannot be
managed by the arts of conciliation, then must thou
try to rescue Suyodhana by lightly skirmishing with
the foe. But if the chief of the Gandharvas do
not let the Kurus off even then, they must be rescued
by crushing the foe by all means. O Vrikodara,
this is all I can tell thee now, for my vow hath been
begun and is not ended yet!”

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing these words
of Ajatasatru, Dhananjaya pledged himself, from respect
for these commands of his superior, to liberate the
Kauravas. And Arjuna said, ’If the Gandharvas
do not set the Dhartarashtras free peacefully, the
Earth shall this day drink the blood of the king of
the Gandharvas!’ And hearing that pledge of the
truth-speaking Arjuna, the Kauravas then, O king, regained
(the lost) tenor of their minds.”

SECTION CCXLII

Vaisampayana said, “Hearing the words of Yudhishthira,
those bulls among men, headed by Bhimasena, rose up
with faces beaming in joy. And those mighty warriors,
O Bharata, then began to case themselves in impenetrable
mail that were besides variegated with pure gold, and
armed themselves with celestial weapons of various
kinds. And the Pandavas thus cased in mail, and
mounted on those chariots furnished with flagstaffs
and armed with bows and arrows, looked like blazing
fires. And those tigers among warriors, riding
upon those well furnished cars drawn by fleet horses,
proceeded to that spot without losing a moment.
And beholding those mighty warriors—­the
sons of Pandu—­thus proceeding together (for
the liberation of Duryodhana), the Kuru army sent
forth a loud shout. And soon did those rangers
of the sky flushed with victory, and those impetuous